Quaternary glaciations of South Spitsbergen and their correlation with Scandinavian glaciations of Poland

Abstract

The earliest recognizable Quaternary sediments in Spitsbergen, dated by the thermoluminescence method for about 413, 000 years BP and composed of marine clays, are ascribed to the Torellkjegla (=Holstein, Mazovian) Interglacial. These clays are overlain by deposits of the Wedel Jarlsberg Land glaciations (=Saalian, Middle-Polish glaciations), dated by the thermoluminescence method for 313,000 to 220,000 years BP. The maximum of the Sörkapp Land (=Weichselian, Vistulian) Glaciation an Spitsbergen was certified for about 45,000 to 40,000 years BP. An attempt of correlation of the Spitsbergen glaciations with Scandinavian glaciations in Poland indicates a distinct convergence in time of the main Quaternary climatic fluctuations in the Artctic and in Central Europe.